Epistula I ad Corinthios, 10

1. Nolo enim vos ignorare, fra tres, quoniam patres nostri omnes sub nube fuerunt et omnes mare transierunt

1. I want you to know, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,

2. et omnes in Moyse baptizati sunt in nube et in mari

2. and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

3. et omnes eandem escam spiritalem manducaverunt

3. and all ate the same supernatural food

4. et omnes eundem potum spiritalem biberunt; bibebant autem de spiritali, consequente eos, petra; petra autem erat Christus.

4. and all drank the same supernatural drink. For they drank from the supernatural Rock which followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

5. Sed non in pluribus eorum complacuit sibi Deus, nam prostrati sunt in deserto.

5. Nevertheless with most of them God was not pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6. Haec autem figurae fuerunt nostrae, ut non simus concupiscentes malorum, sicut et illi concupierunt.

6. Now these things are warnings for us, not to desire evil as they did.

7. Neque idolorum cultores efficiamini, sicut quidam ex ipsis; quemadmodum scriptum est: “Sedit populus manducare et bibere, et surrexerunt ludere”.

7. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to dance."

8. Neque fornicemur, sicut quidam ex ipsis fornicati sunt, et ceciderunt una die viginti tria milia.

8. We must not indulge in immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.

9. Neque tentemus Christum, sicut quidam eorum tentaverunt et a serpentibus perierunt.

9. We must not put the Lord to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents;

10. Neque murmuraveritis, sicut quidam eorum murmuraverunt et perierunt ab exterminatore.

10. nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

11. Haec autem in figura contingebant illis; scripta sunt autem ad correptionem nostram, in quos fines saeculorum devenerunt.

11. Now these things happened to them as a warning, but they were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come.

12. Itaque, qui se existimat stare, videat, ne cadat.

12. Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

13. Tentatio vos non apprehendit nisi humana; fidelis autem Deus, qui non patietur vos tentari super id quod potestis, sed faciet cum tentatione etiam proventum, ut possitis sustinere.

13. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

14. Propter quod, carissimi mihi, fugite ab idolorum cultura.

14. Therefore, my beloved, shun the worship of idols.

15. Ut prudentibus loquor; vos iudicate, quod dico:

15. I speak as to sensible men; judge for yourselves what I say.

16. Calix benedictionis, cui benedicimus, nonne communicatio sanguinis Christi est? Et panis, quem frangimus, nonne communicatio corporis Christi est?

16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?

17. Quoniam unus panis, unum corpus multi sumus, omnes enim de uno pane participamur.

17. Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

18. Videte Israel secundum carnem: nonne, qui edunt hostias, communicantes sunt altari?

18. Consider the people of Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?

19. Quid ergo dico? Quod idolothytum sit aliquid? Aut quod idolum sit aliquid?

19. What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

20. Sed, quae immolant, daemoniis immolant et non Deo; nolo autem vos communicantes fieri daemoniis.

20. No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons.

21. Non potestis calicem Domini bibere et calicem daemoniorum; non potestis mensae Domini participes esse et mensae daemoniorum.

21. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

22. An aemulamur Dominum? Numquid fortiores illo sumus?

22. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

23. “Omnia licent!”. Sed non omnia expediunt. “Omnia licent!”. Sed non omnia aedificant.

23. "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.

24. Nemo, quod suum est, quaerat, sed quod alterius.

24. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

25. Omne, quod in macello venit, manducate, nihil interrogantes propter conscientiam;

25. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

26. Domini enim est terra, et plenitudo eius.

26. For "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."

27. Si quis vocat vos infidelium, et vultis ire, omne, quod vobis apponitur, manducate, nihil interrogantes propter conscientiam.

27. If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

28. Si quis autem vobis dixerit: “Hoc immolaticium est idolis”, nolite manducare, propter illum, qui indicavit, et propter conscientiam;

28. (But if some one says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then out of consideration for the man who informed you, and for conscience' sake --

29. conscientiam autem dico non tuam ipsius sed alterius. Ut quid enim libertas mea iudicatur ab alia conscientia?

29. I mean his conscience, not yours -- do not eat it.) For why should my liberty be determined by another man's scruples?

30. Si ego cum gratia participo, quid blasphemor pro eo, quod gratias ago?

30. If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

31. Sive ergo manducatis sive bibitis sive aliud quid facitis, omnia in gloriam Dei facite.

31. So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

32. Sine offensione estote Iudaeis et Graecis et ecclesiae Dei,

32. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,

33. sicut et ego per omnia omnibus placeo, non quaerens, quod mihi utile est, sed quod multis, ut salvi fiant.

33. just as I try to please all men in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.